Who needs a sportswriter?

[wudu]

I recently read about this website in Sports Illustrated, and immediately thought of Front Office Football.

StatSheet.com

It's an automated Sports Writing website. Using just the box scores and an extensive library of common phrases (not to mention a shit load of talented programmers), ROBOTS are able to churn out articles like this one, written about the recent USC/Oregon State game:

Corvallis, OR (Sports Network) - Ryan Katz threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns while Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 128 yards and a score, as Oregon State stifled No. 20 Southern California, 36-7, at Reser Stadium.

Katz completed 17-of-24 passes for the Beavers (5-5, 4-3 Pac-10), who had lost their last two. Oregon State recorded its largest margin of victory over the Trojans since the teams' initial meeting in 1914.

USC (7-4, 4-4) played the final two quarters without quarterback Matt Barkley, who suffered a high ankle sprain at the end of the first half. Barkley completed 10-of-19 passes for 75 yards with an interception, which cornerback Jordan Poyer returned 65 yards for a score to help the Beavers snap the Trojans' two-game win streak.

"They're saying right now that it's a high ankle sprain, so I wasn't good enough to go back out there and compete," said Barkley. "Not a good feeling, knowing that you can't do anything about it, but I've been in this situation before so we'll see what happens. I'll rehab the heck out of it and be back for this week, but this stinks."

USC got into Oregon State territory on its first possession, but turned the ball over on downs. Most of the first quarter was a struggle for both offenses, and Justin Kahut's 34-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining provided the only points.

The Beavers' defense increased the lead only 12 seconds into the second quarter, when Poyer picked off Barkley at the OSU 35 and ran it back for a score.

"Games that are won like that against a team like that, you need that something there - a big play," said OSU head coach Mike Riley. "The last two times we beat them we had big punt returns; big plays that set the tone and sparked the team to get going. Jordan's play was awesome and was a big factor in the game."

After a series of three-and-out possessions, Oregon State put together a touchdown drive. The Beavers started with the ball at their own 47 and reached the end zone in seven plays. Katz's 24-yard pass to Aaron Nichols got the ball to the USC three, and Rodgers rushed across the goal line on the next play to make it a 17-0 game with about seven minutes left in the half.

On the ensuing drive, the Trojans again turned it over on downs, and Kahut drilled a 38-yarder in the final minute for a 20-point lead.

Barkley was sacked by Kevin Frahm on USC's final play of the half, leaving the Trojans without their quarterback or a point heading into the break.

Mitch Mustain did not have much success on his first two series under center, and Kahut's 35-yard field goal pushed the OSU lead to 35-0.

But C.J. Gable returned the kickoff 56 yards to put the Trojans in Oregon State territory, then helped them break into the end zone. After a series of Mustain passes advanced the ball to the OSU 19, Gable got the ball three times. His 13-yard touchdown run put USC on the board with 3:21 left in the third quarter.

However, the Trojans couldn't get off their own side of the field again until the final play from scrimmage, and Katz added touchdown passes to Jordan Bishop and Joe Halahuni in the last six minutes.

That automation is so good that a small part of me still wonders if its a hoax, or at least wonders if a programmer goes in afterwards and adds flavor like quotes and such.

But can you image what a boon this would be to FOF? A newspaper tab, like in East Side Hockey Manager, but one that you'll actually READ and will keep you connected with your league! Even if you are somehow able to use it for just MP, the immersion would be amazing!

[imdashep]

Oooooohhhh, I'm a Beaver, you're a Beaver, we are Beavers all, and when we get together, we do the Beaver Call. Rrrrrr, RRRrrr, RRRR. Rrrr, RRRrrr, RRRR

Wow

[wudu]

Intimidating, right? I hear awe in your voice.

[Young Drachma]

Wow. Checking it out.

[Young Drachma]

Doesn't seem to allow you to import your own box scores to do it yourself, though.

[wudu]

Yeah, its a proprietary software they haven't really adapted for outside use yet. The potential though, can you smell it?